Oberalp Pass

Alpine pass at 2044m linking Andermatt to Graubünden, crossed by the Glacier Express

The Oberalp Pass (2044m) connects the Uri valley around Andermatt to the Graubünden canton and the headwaters of the Rhine. It is less dramatic than the Furka but the crossing is historically significant — traders and armies have been using this route for centuries, and the Rhine Glacier at the top is one of the sources of Europe's longest river.

The pass is crossed by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway, which means it is accessible in both summer and winter by train. In summer, the lake at the summit (Lai da Tuma) is a pleasant stop and the hiking trails are good. In winter, the Oberalp Ski Arena provides beginner and intermediate terrain on the north side above Andermatt.

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The Oberalp Pass is the highest point on the Glacier Express route — the famous slow train that runs between Zermatt and St. Moritz crosses it at 2033 metres. In winter the road is closed but the railway keeps running, making the crossing available year-round to rail passengers.

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